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Using Medical Marijuana to Ease the Symptoms of Celiac Disease

May 14, 2018

Using Medical Marijuana to Ease the Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Posted By
The Station

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that occurs when sufferers consume gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. When the body of a person who has celiac disease detects gluten in their digestive tract, it causes damage to the villi, which are tiny, finger-like projections in the lining of the small intestine. When the villi become damaged, it limits the ability for the body to absorb nutrients, resulting in abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss and other nutrient deficiency issues. Those suffering from celiac disease are more likely to develop diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cancer later in life.

Fortunately, cannabis can offer relief to the symptoms of celiac disease. For instance, many people with celiac disease experience abdominal pain caused by bloating and excess gas. Medical researchers have discovered that low-dose cannabis can treat nerve pain, including abdominal pain.

Medical marijuana can help decrease nausea, promote appetite, and relieve a number of common symptoms of celiac sufferers when they encounter gluten. Cannabis can work on the endocannabinoid receptors found in the stomach lining to ease pain and reduce inflammation in celiac disease patients.

While researchers have yet to study the medical marijuana treatment in people with celiac disease, there are several studies which demonstrate how cannabis might help with certain autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. For example, multiple studies have shown that medicinal marijuana can reduce or hinder the erroneous nerve signals that cause pain, muscles stiffness, and muscles spasms.

Additionally, cannabis is gluten-free. The actual plant, found in the Cannabaceae family, is closely related to hemp and not closely related at all to the gluten grains. However, hemp--a grain substitute that’s found in gluten-free baked goods--can be subject to gluten cross-contamination since many farmers who cultivate hemp also cultivate gluten grains, which means they use the same fields and equipment for both. Fortunately, farmers who grow marijuana generally do not also grow grains such as wheat, which means pure cannabis is gluten-free.

For more information about the medicinal benefits of cannabis, contact The Station today.